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4.56 AVERAGE
4.56 AVERAGE
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
(initial response to finishing the book) just when you think the book can't possibly break your heart anymore, it delivers a fresh, full-force blow to the gut. so raw. so lyrical. the tears will not stop falling from my eyes. i'm in love with this book.
/updated review/
This book is probably one of my all-time favorite books. Susan Abulhawa weaves in the history and current-day political struggles of the Palestinian people in a way that is completely humanizing and heart-wrenching. She creates characters that you can't help but fall in love with. Her prose is phenomenal, I had highlights and exclamation points almost on every page. This is one of the few books that I've ever read that I've connected to on such a deep and personal level. I would love to teach this book to my students because it's important that they learn about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a way that humanizes and puts the Palestinian struggle into concrete experiences. Also, in general, Arab Americans don't get any representation in the curriculum and this book also touches on what it's like to live in America as a first and second generation Arab American. So important.
/updated review/
This book is probably one of my all-time favorite books. Susan Abulhawa weaves in the history and current-day political struggles of the Palestinian people in a way that is completely humanizing and heart-wrenching. She creates characters that you can't help but fall in love with. Her prose is phenomenal, I had highlights and exclamation points almost on every page. This is one of the few books that I've ever read that I've connected to on such a deep and personal level. I would love to teach this book to my students because it's important that they learn about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a way that humanizes and puts the Palestinian struggle into concrete experiences. Also, in general, Arab Americans don't get any representation in the curriculum and this book also touches on what it's like to live in America as a first and second generation Arab American. So important.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was incredibly difficult reading this book while being aware of what’s happening in Palestine in our current day. Despite how painful of a read it is, it’s so important for us to keep reading about Palestine, to educate ourselves on the pain and suffering spanning generations. But also to be aware of all of the love, hope, and resistance that fuels Palestinians.
I believe these polarities are well-reflected in this book, as it includes despondence, loss, and heartbreak while also following a family guided by their love for their homeland and each other.
I’d definitely recommend this to others, and it’s always Free Palestine!
I believe these polarities are well-reflected in this book, as it includes despondence, loss, and heartbreak while also following a family guided by their love for their homeland and each other.
I’d definitely recommend this to others, and it’s always Free Palestine!
Super recomendado! Una historia sobre Palestina, escrita por una autora Palestina!
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very poignant especially reading in the era when Gaza is being bombed day in and day out.
إذا أردت أن ترى قضية فلسطين بعين أبنائها وشعبها لا بعين محتلّيها،ستراها هُنا مع سوزان أبو الهوى، ستعيشُ لأربعة أجيال كامله في 471 صفحة فقط، ستحوي هذي الصفحات على وجع الأرض، وجع الأمهات والزوجات، العُشّاق، الشيوخ والأطفال، عن سيرة عائلية مضرّجة بالألم والفقد والحُب الميؤوس، ولن يفقد الفلسطينيون المقاومة طبعًا، إذا أردتم معرفة قهر الاحتلال فاقرؤوا، ولا تنسوا مع كل نغزة ألمٍ في قلوبكم أن تلعنوا الإحتلال، أن تغلي دماؤكم حِميةً لإخوانكم..
This was a book I was really looking forward to reading, especially since [book:Against the Loveless World|52761023] by the same author became an instant favourite and go-to recommendation. There are several good concepts and plot lines at the heart of this book, but the execution is just not it for me.
The writing is heavily one of telling rather than showing, especially when it comes to the characters' personalities and experiences. As a result, a lot of the characters were flat and seemingly identical, leaving me to go back to check who was who and where they sat in the family tree repeatedly. The continuous change in points of view and, crucially, the inconsistency in narrative voice, did not lend themselves to an easy reading experience. I have read books before where the narrative voice switches between first and third person, but usually there is some reasoning behind this. In Mornings in Jenin, there didn't seem to be any logic behind the switch, particularly where the narrative voice for particular characters switched from first person to third person and back again from one chapter to the next. Lastly, the time jumps included in each chapter to reveal facets from the past as well as the future were tremendously confusing. This goes back to the first issue where the author is relying heavily on telling us what's happening to the characters than letting us see it.
All of these factors combined to make a less than pleasant reading experience. I've seen some reviewers say that Abulhawa may have been trying to include too many plot lines in one story, but I disagree. I think a multi-generational family saga can easily cover several plot points in one book it it's done well. Unfortunately, Mornings in Jenin suffered from many of the issues familiar to debut novels. It's a shame really because a good editor could've worked with Abulhawa on refining these issues to make for a spectacular book.
I'll end by saying that I'm glad that I read Against the Loveless World first because had Mornings in Jenin been my introduction to Abulhawa's writing, I may have not picked up another of her books.
The writing is heavily one of telling rather than showing, especially when it comes to the characters' personalities and experiences. As a result, a lot of the characters were flat and seemingly identical, leaving me to go back to check who was who and where they sat in the family tree repeatedly. The continuous change in points of view and, crucially, the inconsistency in narrative voice, did not lend themselves to an easy reading experience. I have read books before where the narrative voice switches between first and third person, but usually there is some reasoning behind this. In Mornings in Jenin, there didn't seem to be any logic behind the switch, particularly where the narrative voice for particular characters switched from first person to third person and back again from one chapter to the next. Lastly, the time jumps included in each chapter to reveal facets from the past as well as the future were tremendously confusing. This goes back to the first issue where the author is relying heavily on telling us what's happening to the characters than letting us see it.
All of these factors combined to make a less than pleasant reading experience. I've seen some reviewers say that Abulhawa may have been trying to include too many plot lines in one story, but I disagree. I think a multi-generational family saga can easily cover several plot points in one book it it's done well. Unfortunately, Mornings in Jenin suffered from many of the issues familiar to debut novels. It's a shame really because a good editor could've worked with Abulhawa on refining these issues to make for a spectacular book.
I'll end by saying that I'm glad that I read Against the Loveless World first because had Mornings in Jenin been my introduction to Abulhawa's writing, I may have not picked up another of her books.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Genocide, Violence, Death of parent, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Infertility, Excrement, Antisemitism, Dementia